Blunt force killed girl, report says; mother’s bail $100,000.

Blunt-force trauma caused the death of a Drew County toddler Aug. 30, a state medical examiner determined.

Before her death, 19-monthold Talondon Jacobs suffered broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a perforated bowel and cuts on the inside of her lips, indicating defensiveness after something was placed over her face, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The slain child’s mother, Kanikka Jenkins, 26, of Monticello was charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the child’s death.

Talondon was pronounced dead at Drew Memorial Hospital after Jenkins and her boyfriend took the toddler to the hospital. Jenkins told hospital staff that the child had thrown up her food and couldn’t breathe, the affidavit said.

Monticello police were called after a nurse noticed swelling and discoloration on the child’s forehead.

When questioned, Jenkins told detectives that she found her daughter choking 30 minutes after feeding her. Jenkins wiped the toddler’s face and took her to the hospital, she told police.

“Jenkins became very defensive while talking to [Monticello detective Hank] Hollinger and stated that she did not do anything to her child,” the affidavit said.

A state Crime Laboratory doctor discovered signs of trauma during an autopsy Aug. 31, concluding that bluntforce trauma to Talondon’s torso caused her death. The doctor also discovered signs of previous trauma, including previously broken ribs that had healed, the affidavit said.

“There was no sign of aspiration or choking as Ms. Jenkins” told police, the affidavit said.

Authorities again questioned Jenkins, who has four other children, about a week after Talondon’s death. She described a similar scenario leading up to her daughter’s death, the affidavit said.

Jenkins told investigators that her boyfriend and father were also at home when the toddler became distressed, but she said neither would have harmed the child.

“Jenkins was unable to provide any information on how [Talondon] would have received these injuries,” the affidavit said.

Both men told police that they were asleep when Jenkins woke them up to tell them something was wrong with the child.

Jenkins remains at the Drew County jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

A deputy circuit clerk for Drew County on Monday couldn’t provide the date of Jenkins’ next court appearance because the case hadn’t yet been bound over from the District Court.